Harvard University has reached a confidential settlement with Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum, an Orthodox Jewish alumnus of Harvard Divinity School, who filed a high-profile lawsuit accusing the institution of ignoring antisemitism on campus. The agreement concludes a months-long legal battle that drew national attention to how elite universities respond to claims of religious discrimination.
Kestenbaum filed the lawsuit in January 2024, alleging that Harvard tolerated a hostile environment for Jewish students, especially in the wake of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. He claimed that the university failed to act when Jewish students, including himself, were subjected to harassment, threats, and intimidation, particularly from student groups and individuals expressing anti-Israel sentiments that crossed into antisemitic rhetoric.
According to court filings, Kestenbaum reported multiple incidents in which fellow students allegedly questioned his faith, equated Zionism with racism, and physically confronted him during campus demonstrations. He also claimed the administration refused to intervene or discipline those involved, despite repeated complaints.
In a statement following the settlement, Kestenbaum said he pursued the lawsuit “not only for justice in [his] own case, but to ensure that no Jewish student at Harvard—or any other university—would have to face this kind of hate alone.”
Harvard has not admitted any wrongdoing but confirmed that the matter has been resolved. “The University remains committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful academic environment for all students,” a Harvard spokesperson said.
The terms of the settlement remain confidential, and neither side disclosed whether any policy changes or financial compensation were included in the agreement. Legal experts note that the case was significant because it tested how civil rights law could be applied to allegations of campus antisemitism in the post-October 7 political climate.
Kestenbaum’s legal team emphasized that while the lawsuit has concluded, the broader issue of antisemitism on college campuses remains unresolved. “This is a step forward, but not the end of the conversation,” one of his attorneys said.
